People Archives - Mississippi Valley Traveler

One of the Toughest, Smartest People I Ever Met
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One of the Toughest, Smartest People I Ever Met

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One of the Toughest, Smartest People I Ever Met

I met Lucille Keil when she was a spry 84-year-old museum guide. She was my docent at the Young Museum in Bellevue, Iowa, leading me around the house filled with souvenirs collected by Joe and Grace Young during their world travels. During that first tour, she scowled when we reached a glass cabinet near

By Dean Klinkenberg|2019-06-30T11:28:17-05:00June 30th, 2019|Characters|2 Comments

An Immigrant Orphan and His Overachieving Family
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An Immigrant Orphan and His Overachieving Family

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An Immigrant Orphan and His Overachieving Family

Gerhard Gesell emigrated to the US from Germany in 1863, an orphan eager to start a new life. He was the first generation in a family of high achievers in the United States. Patriarch Gerhard was a gifted photographer; son Arnold was a well-known child psychologist; and grandson Gerhard a respected federal judge. Their

By Dean Klinkenberg|2019-04-01T17:58:14-05:00March 30th, 2019|Characters|Comments Off

“If you are planning to take the Great River Road along the Mississippi River…be sure to take along these new travel guides by Dean Klinkenberg… Actually, the books are entertaining to read without leaving your chair.”
–Becky Sisco, Big River Magazine, Jan/Feb 2010.

“Hey, Just found, read and finished your Lansing to Le Claire. Being a 78 year old that has followed the Mississippi, up and down, all my life, I thought I had little more to learn about the cities, villages and crossroads along the river. Not So! Absolutley loved your book. Great history, great descriptions, great humor. Just top notch!
Thanks for the great writing.
–Don Staats, Onalaska, Wisconsin